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Let’s Play for Change

20 November 2018 - 24 December 2018

Play is fundamental to children’s wellbeing. That’s why our in-store campaign has children’s right to play at its heart.

When children can play, they learn new skills, become more social and are better able to cope with stress. Play is so important that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises it as one of children’s fundamental human rights.

Sadly, many children around the world lack safe spaces to play.

From 20 November through 24 December, the Let’s Play for Change campaign is highlighting the IKEA Foundation’s partnerships that help children around the world play and develop, even in the most difficult circumstances.

These programmes are helping hundreds of thousands of children, thanks to the work of six partner organisations: UNICEF, Save the Children, Room to Read, Handicap International (Humanity and Inclusion), Special Olympics and War Child.

See the safe spaces helping children, play, develop and be kids!

UNICEF: China, India, Indonesia and Kenya

UNICEF has helped over 39,000 children in resource-poor communities benefit from early childhood development and protection programmes

Save the Children: Bangladesh and Ethiopia

(photo credit: Save the Children/Ethiopia 2018)

Save the Children prevents the unsafe migration of children by promoting protection, education and play for those on the move. So far almost 6,000 children have played and developed in safe spaces equipped with child-friendly materials.

Room to Read: Bangladesh and Indonesia

(photo credit: Room to Read/Indonesia 2018)

Room toRead transforms children’s lives by enhancing the education they receive. Through its work, over 79,000 children have developed literacy and reading skills, benefitting from new libraries, quality learning materials and trained educators.

Handicap International: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand

Photo credit: Handicap International/Bangladesh 2018

Handicap International has provided safe spaces to play, learn and develop for more than 2,500 displaced children who are vulnerable or who live with disabilities.

Special Olympics: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Thailand

Photo credit: Special Olympics/Thailand 2018

SpecialOlympics has created over 10,000 safe and inclusive spaces for children with intellectual disabilities to develop through sports and play.So far, almost 120,000 children have participated.

War Child: Jordan and Lebanon

Photo credit: War Child/Jordan 2018

WarChild has provided, for over 13,200 children in Jordan and Lebanon affected by the Syrian conflict, safe environments where they can play, learn and develop